Tensions escalate at state border: Tear gas used to halt farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march
by Ekta ChaubeyIn a significant development, police used tear gas to disperse protesting farmers. The farmers had announced a march towards the national capital to press for their various demands.
The incident took place at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border on December 6.
Visual shows the police barricades preventing the movement of farmers, with a heavy deployment of police personnel in the area. Police are firing tear gas shells to stop farmers from crossing the border.
According to reports, the incident occurred after farmers participating in the “Delhi Chalo” march were stopped at the Shambhu border. Police officials stated that the farmers lacked permission to enter Haryana. The police official at the Shambhu border said, “The farmers do not have permission to enter Haryana. The Ambala administration has enforced Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).”
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who was also halted at the border, demanded either permission to proceed peacefully to Delhi or a dialogue to address their grievances. He stated, “We should be allowed to move towards Delhi peacefully or the government must engage with us about our demands. We have always maintained that we are open to dialogue. If the government is willing to talk, they should provide an official letter from the central government or the chief minister’s office of Haryana or Punjab. Our demands must be acknowledged. We need a designated place in Delhi to protest, and internet services in Ambala should be restored.”
Earlier in the day, the Haryana government ordered the suspension of internet services in ten villages of Ambala from December 6 to December 9 under Section 20 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, according to an official statement. However, banking and mobile recharge services would remain operational.